To make the cut

Career Watch

Do you have an eye for style? Do you pick up fashion magazines to check out the latest trends? Do you take pride in what you wear? If the answers are a big ‘yes’, an exciting career awaits you in the world of fashion. We aren’t speaking about fashion designing, though, as a career, it continues to hold great appeal. We are discussing careers that extend beyond designing clothes.

Visual merchandiser

Also known as display artists, visual display designers or even fashion merchandisers, they are responsible for the interior and exterior display in a store. They combine their creativity and artistic flair with technical know-how to set up displays that maximise the space of the store while effectively catching the eye and increasing customer traffic.

“We have to take into account the current trends, seasonal factors and the occasion while planning the visual display of a store,” says Nitish Chandra, a Bangalore-based fashion merchandiser. Store brand image is another important aspect of visual merchandising.
Pay scale: Rs 15,000 and above.

Fashion writer

Fashion icon Diana Vreeland famously remarked, “What is fashion without literature?” Fashion magazines, newspapers, websites, television and even blogs employ good writers. They are the ones who interpret and analyse the latest trends of the season. They work with fashion photographers to capture the feel of the industry.

But before you get carried away with all the power that comes attached to the job title, a writer’s job isn’t easy; it includes a lot of research, travel and hard work. Every article you write must be informative and interesting for the reader.

According to fashion writer Yogitha Ramamoorthy, “Passion and hard work are the keywords in writing.” The pre-requisites for this job are a passion for writing, which includes an excellent command of the language and good writing skills, superior research and fact-checking skills and of course, an abiding interest in fashion.
Pay scale: Rs 10,000-15,000 and above.

Fashion stylists

Are you a style saviour for your friends? If you think you have impeccable taste when it comes to clothes and can match them with the right shoes and accessories, a job as a stylist can just be your next career move. Stylists are image consultants with a strong fashion sense. They work as personal stylists to celebrities, behind the scenes at fashion shows, television and video production studios or even in fashion magazines. They are the ones who scout for locations, set the mood, select the props, and pick the right clothes and accessories. Fashion houses, designer stores, magazines, newspapers, retailers, television and film production houses, advertising agencies, and music production companies often employ fashion stylists. Stylists are also employed by celebrities as wardrobe consultants. Urshika Kapoor, fashion designer and stylist, says, “You have to update yourself with the global trends and also keep in mind the personality and the need of the clients. It is not as glamorous as it looks, but it is a very challenging and promising job”.
Pay scale: Rs 15,000-20,000 and above.
 
Fashion illustrator
Is there an artist hidden inside you somewhere? If you love to sketch and paint, consider a career in fashion illustration. Fashion illustrators communicate fashion with illustrations, drawings and sketches. They bring to life the latest accessories through their drawings for fashion advertisements, catalogues, and the media. As artists, they master freehand drawing or computer aided drawing. Knowledge of the design software is priority for a professional artist. They may work on a freelance basis or out of their own studio. It is an illustrator who gives shape to the ideas of designer or clients.
Pay scale: Rs 10,000-15,000.
 
Fashion photographer

When you browse fashion magazines, what catches your eye—the glamorous model or the way the photograph has been composed? If the picture fascinates you and you have an eye for detail, fashion photography might be your calling. Fashion photographers are often grabbed by magazines, web portals, fashion and advertising houses to conceptualise, shoot, develop, and print still photos to show off clothes and accessories that catch the eye of consumers. They must also understand the needs of a designer which should communicate through the photographs.
Pay scale: Rs 15,000 and above.

Fashion co-ordinator

Fashion co-ordinators are responsible for creating and managing the image and brand of a design house, fashion magazine or retail store. They stay updated on the business news in the fashion industry and keep up with the latest trends and style.

Their job also includes organising fashion shows, supervising fashion photography shoots for promotions, serving as a liaison between fabric suppliers, wholesalers and designers. Be prepared for  long hours and frequent travel. The bonus? You get to spend the day shopping for clothes and, better still, you get paid to shop. For many it could be the dream job.
Pay scale: Rs 15,000 and more.
 
Where do I study?

If you have made your choice and if you have the aptitude to make it big in the fashion world, what you need now is to combine your natural talent with a degree or diploma in fashion.

National Institute of Fashion Technology
NIFT Campus
CA Site No. 21,
Sector 1, 27th Main Road,
HSR Layout,
Bangalore - 560 034
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
www.nift.ac.in/bengaluru

Vogue Institute of
Fashion Technology
Football Stadium Complex, Diagonally Opp. Garuda mall,
Off MG Road
Bangalore - 560 025.
Tel:[phone].
www.voguefashioninstitute.com

JD Institute of Fashion Technology
Hour Main Road, Adugodi
Bangalore-
Tel: [phone]
www.jdinstitute.com
 
Indian Institute of Fashion Technology
#3, 1/6, MC Road, 1st Cross
Vijaynagar
Bangalore-560079
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
www.iiftbanaglore.com